Trending

Bette Midler Claimed ‘Women Are The N-Word Of The World' And Now We Have To Cancel ‘Hocus Pocus’

We just wanted to enjoy the Halloween season in peace. Now Black women don't exist?!

Alexa Lisitza

| October 05 2018,

12:51 am

It’s spooky season, so we’re all supposed to be crowded in front of the TV, watching Bette Midler star in the classic movie Hocus Pocus. Instead, we’re on Twitter, looking like that meme of the fast-blinking white man as we stare at Midler alleging, “women are the N-word of the world.”

Like what you're reading?Get more in your inbox.

Welcome to the family! Check your inbox for your confirmation.

Yes.

The 72-year-old actress quoted the title of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1972 song in a now-deleted tweet:

“Women, are the n-word of the world.” Raped, beaten, enslaved, married off, worked like dumb animals; denied education and inheritance; enduring the pain and danger of childbirth and life IN SILENCE for THOUSANDS of years They are the most disrespected creatures on earth.— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 4, 2018

Not only does the ignorant tweet diminish the plight of Black people, pit the marginalized against one another and seemingly erase any acknowledgment of Black women's existence, Middler also managed to ooze the worst stenches of white feminism by proposing her people should no longer be treated the same way as Black people are. What happened to the allies?

Many were quick to let ol’ girl know that this AIN’T it.

Sighs...its so disappointing to see you use that quote. Women are highly disrespected - but don't displace the atrocities that were done to black people by using that quote.— Jasmine Y Stephen (@j_yvonnes) October 4, 2018

Related:

@BetteMidler Please delete this tweet. Women have dealt w/oppression but WOC, specifically Black women have dealt with worse situations than white women. I know you're trying to be an ally but this tweet isn't a glue that will bring us together— Nicholausa and her Salty Sass Train (@nocompliance1) October 5, 2018

no. because black women exist. this is some white feminist bullshit & it’s disappointing af. you don’t get to co-opt a slur created to denigrate black bodies as if we don’t still deal with the consequences of that word. fucking shit @BetteMidlerhttps://t.co/1yRz7MuQN6— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) October 5, 2018

White progressives wonder why black people don’t trust us or see us as allies and then white progressives pull shit like Bette Midler just did and honestly if I didn’t know my heart I wouldn’t trust my pasty ass either.— Bi-furious Jay (@jaylikewhoa) October 5, 2018

So many quotes to choose from. It's best to stay away from the ones with an n-word, White people. Again, it's debilitating to have to fight and teach those "on our side" at the same time. @BetteMidler— Angela Nissel (@AngelaNissel) October 5, 2018

It's time to retire that quote. It minimizes racism and is counterproductive to intersectional feminism. The shock value is in NO WAY worth the harm to Black people.— Your J---- M Anon (@JuliusAnonymous) October 5, 2018

Another day, another cancellation.

The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me. Angrily I tweeted w/o thinking my choice of words would be enraging to black women who doubly suffer, both by being women and by being black. I am an ally and stand with you; always have. And I apologize.— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 5, 2018

Trending

Bette Midler Claimed ‘Women Are The N-Word Of The World' And Now We Have To Cancel ‘Hocus Pocus’

We just wanted to enjoy the Halloween season in peace. Now Black women don't exist?!

Alexa Lisitza

| October 05 2018,

12:51 am

It’s spooky season, so we’re all supposed to be crowded in front of the TV, watching Bette Midler star in the classic movie Hocus Pocus. Instead, we’re on Twitter, looking like that meme of the fast-blinking white man as we stare at Midler alleging, “women are the N-word of the world.”

Like what you're reading?Get more in your inbox.

Welcome to the family! Check your inbox for your confirmation.

Yes.

The 72-year-old actress quoted the title of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1972 song in a now-deleted tweet:

“Women, are the n-word of the world.” Raped, beaten, enslaved, married off, worked like dumb animals; denied education and inheritance; enduring the pain and danger of childbirth and life IN SILENCE for THOUSANDS of years They are the most disrespected creatures on earth.— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 4, 2018

Not only does the ignorant tweet diminish the plight of Black people, pit the marginalized against one another and seemingly erase any acknowledgment of Black women's existence, Middler also managed to ooze the worst stenches of white feminism by proposing her people should no longer be treated the same way as Black people are. What happened to the allies?

Many were quick to let ol’ girl know that this AIN’T it.

Sighs...its so disappointing to see you use that quote. Women are highly disrespected - but don't displace the atrocities that were done to black people by using that quote.— Jasmine Y Stephen (@j_yvonnes) October 4, 2018

Related:

@BetteMidler Please delete this tweet. Women have dealt w/oppression but WOC, specifically Black women have dealt with worse situations than white women. I know you're trying to be an ally but this tweet isn't a glue that will bring us together— Nicholausa and her Salty Sass Train (@nocompliance1) October 5, 2018

no. because black women exist. this is some white feminist bullshit & it’s disappointing af. you don’t get to co-opt a slur created to denigrate black bodies as if we don’t still deal with the consequences of that word. fucking shit @BetteMidlerhttps://t.co/1yRz7MuQN6— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) October 5, 2018

White progressives wonder why black people don’t trust us or see us as allies and then white progressives pull shit like Bette Midler just did and honestly if I didn’t know my heart I wouldn’t trust my pasty ass either.— Bi-furious Jay (@jaylikewhoa) October 5, 2018

So many quotes to choose from. It's best to stay away from the ones with an n-word, White people. Again, it's debilitating to have to fight and teach those "on our side" at the same time. @BetteMidler— Angela Nissel (@AngelaNissel) October 5, 2018

It's time to retire that quote. It minimizes racism and is counterproductive to intersectional feminism. The shock value is in NO WAY worth the harm to Black people.— Your J---- M Anon (@JuliusAnonymous) October 5, 2018

Another day, another cancellation.

The too brief investigation of allegations against Kavanaugh infuriated me. Angrily I tweeted w/o thinking my choice of words would be enraging to black women who doubly suffer, both by being women and by being black. I am an ally and stand with you; always have. And I apologize.— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) October 5, 2018

Share this Story:

hocus pocus

bette midler

canceled

Blavity is a community of the most exceptional multi-cultural creators and influencers in the world. We partner with diverse content creators and influencers to help them reach a wider audience, amplify their message, and fund their hustles. We believe that the world shifts according to the way people see it— and if you change the way people view the world, you can transform it. A subsidiary of Blavity, Inc.